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Which? Don't Buy dash cams

The worst dash cams could give you a real headache after a crash, with poor footage that fails to pick up important details like number plates.
Hardeep ChannaResearcher & writer

Buying a Don't Buy dash cam isn't just a waste of money, it could also spell serious trouble should you ever find yourself in an accident. 

Our lab tests have uncovered Don't Buy dash cams that produce such poor or unreliable recordings they may not be admissible as evidence in court. Best Buy dash cams, on the other hand, create clear, smooth recordings that will back you up - not leave you stranded.

Log in or join Which? to unlock the Don’t Buy-rated dash cams on this page and to get access to all of our dash cam reviews, including our Best Buys.

What makes a Don't Buy dash cam?

Footage from certain dash cams is all but useless. Those that receive the dubious honour of being a Which? Don't Buy have been judged by us of being incapable of producing trustworthy footage. 

Recordings may look juddery, blurry, dim, have a narrow field of view, or all of the above.

Bargains are tempting, but when your legal defence hangs in the balance this is one buying decision you want to make sure to get absolutely right. Dash cams that score highly in our tests will be there for you when you need them.

Unique dash cam testing by Which?

Which? has reviewed the latest dash cams, including models by Nextbase, Thinkware and BlackVue, plus sat nav makers Garmin and Binatone, to help find the best model for you. 

Our tough testing means we can recommend those dash cams that offer excellent footage quality, are easy to use and offer a raft of useful features.

  • Our lab experts put every dash cam through the same set of tests, including footage quality, and how easy it is to install, use and remove. Plus we examine the features they offer, and the accuracy of these
  • We give every pair of dash cams a Which? test score so you can immediately see at-a-glance which are the best and worst, plus how each model compares to each other in features and specifications
  • Our tests cover a range of brands and prices, including everything from cheap unbranded options through to expensive dash cam systems

Which? tests have found that some dash cams offer footage so poor and lacking in detail that we think you should avoid them altogether.

Which? is independent – we work for you, the consumer, so you can be sure that our product recommendations are influenced only by our test results. We're not influenced by third parties and we don't accept freebies from product manufacturers or retailers. We buy all the products that we test ourselves, so our advice helps you to make the right choice first time and avoid costly mistakes.

Don't get stuck with a dodgy dash cam - join Which?. You will also get access to all of our online reviews, from cars to cameras.